Inside Burqa

Burqa kept me in the darkBurqa kept me in prisonAnd behind a man-made windowIt stopped me from watching the sunAnd it hid my pouts and smilesIt made me fear what I want to seeBurqa is a man-made windowA fence between me and my dreamsBut I know how to use burqa

Burqa is a grin that I should keep privateA sign of respect the women deserveIt hides my beauty from those who eye meBurqa is a strong woman’s weaponI use its small openings to glimpse vast realitiesAnd employ its injustice in my struggle for justiceI show it to those who force me to wear itAnd use it to test my patience for injustice

Comments

I loved your poem. I loved the way you wrote it and I admire your thoughts and the way you speak.
The way your poem ends is heartbreaking and it ends with a reality, strength and bravery in Afghan women’s life story. I hope that one day we get rid of wearing burqa and we dont wear this monster any more! Keep writing.
Best
Pari

Thank you for the complexity of this piece. I was actually just thinking about women’s clothes and trying to imagine the significance of head scarves and burqas to the women who wear them. Literature that helps people from different cultures better understand each other is so important! Thank you for this generous and beautiful exploration of the burqa and of identity.

Beautiful work, Asma! I love the last line, “I am the same with or without burqa” — so powerful. Thank you for pointing out the positive side of the burqa — and that you “know how to use” it. A strong message. Thank you for writing this. Nancy